DUSHANBE -- Cold weather is being blamed for severe electricity rationing in Tajikistan.

An official of the Barqi Tojik state energy company told RFE/RL on March 27 that an abrupt spell of cold weather had led to a decrease in the water level of rivers feeding into the Nurek hydropower station, causing a reduction in energy output.

Because of the situation, the company says it had to introduce harsh electricity rationing.

Some regions have electricity only for 30 minutes or one hour per day now.

Meanwhile, some districts in northern Sughd Province did not have electricity at all on March 26.